One of the Seraph Admirals stepped forward—white mask, no eyes, wings of flame igniting from his back.
He launched toward Arata like a burning meteor.
But before he could strike—
BOOOOM!
Kenny's fist met him mid-air.
The impact was so violent it sent the Seraph Admiral crashing back into the fortress tower, stone erupting into dust and flame.
He stood back on the tower's ledge, unfazed, watching silently.
Kenny: "Arata is mine."
Seraphel Dawn (calm, impressed): "That was… one hell of a punch."
Arata's eyes glowed faintly as he looked at Kenny.
The battlefield noise faded for him.
For a moment, it was just two brothers again.
Narration: The one he once trained. The boy who chased his shadow. The boy who surpassed it.
Arata: "I'm proud of you."
Kenny landed in front of him, jaw clenched.
Kenny: "Keep it for yourself. I haven't forgotten what you did to me."
Arata: "I left you so you could become stronger."
Kenny: "No. You left me because I was a burden."
Arata's expression didn't harden.
It softened.
That hurt more.
Arata: "What more can I say… when you won't even listen."
Kenny: "Don't say anything, then."
And then—
Arata stepped forward and wrapped him in a quiet, heavy embrace.
Kenny froze.
The battlefield, the screams, the explosions—
All fell silent.
A single tear ran down Kenny's cheek and hit Arata's shoulder.
Arata (gentle, voice low):
"Go, Kenny. Live a good life.
You don't have to witness what happens here."
Kenny (shaking):
"Stop… pretending like you love me."
Arata's arms squeezed tighter.
Arata:
"I do.
I always did.
But I was too stupid to see it until now."
He exhaled, tired.
Broken.
Human.
Arata:
"I won't live long.
And I finally realized…
You were all the family I ever had.
I just didn't know how to accept it."
His voice cracked.
Arata:
"I'm a disgrace of a captain.
Forgive me."